A new publication providing a unique insight into Northern Territory's young people was released today by the Australian Bureau of Statistics and the National Youth Affairs Research Scheme.

The publication provides a rich source of information about 12 to 25 year olds in the Northern Territory drawing on data from the 1996 Census. Additionally, it compares the Territory's young people with the rest of the nation, and provides summary data on young people for all local government areas in the Northern Territory.

Among the publication's key findings are that:

In the Northern Territory, 12 to 25 year olds represented 23% of people counted. This was higher than the National figure of 21%. Nearly 37% of all young people in the Northern Territory were counted in the Darwin City Statistical Subdivsion.

From 1986 to 1996 the population in the Northern Territory grew by 24%. After Queensland, this was the highest growth of any State or Territory. The proportion of young people declined from 26% to 23% over the 10 year period.

The Northern Territory was the only State or Territory where males outnumbered females among all people.

In Australia, the Northern Territory had the highest proportion (32%) of young people who reported as being of Indigenous origin. Nationally this proportion was fewer than 3%. For those aged 26 years and over this proportion was much lower - 17%.

Few young people in the Northern Territory (9%) were born overseas compared with the National figure of 14%. This also contrasted with the 23% of those aged 26 years and over who had been born overseas.

Of those young people born overseas the main countries of origin were the United Kingdom (16%), New Zealand (15%), and Philippines and Indonesia (9% each).

Over 44% of 12 to 25 year olds were still living with their parents - 30% of them as dependent children (under 15 years) or dependent students (aged 15 to 24 years). This was the lowest proportion of all States and Territories. The remaining 14% were living with their parents as non-dependent children.

More young women (25%) than young men (12%) had moved from the family home, forming partnerships and their own families. These proportions were much higher for Indigenous young people - 30% and 16% respectively.

From 1991 to 1996 the proportion of young people attending an educational institution increased by 2% to 38%. Qualifications levels also increased with 5% of young people having attained a bachelor degree or higher in 1996 compared to just 3% in 1991.

Between 1991 and 1996, the proportion of 15 to 25 year olds who were working part-time increased from 15% to 19%, while the proportion working full-time decreased from 33% to 32%.

Details are in Northern Territory's Young People, 1996 (cat. no. 4123.7) available from ABS bookshops. Main features of the publication are available from this site.